Slicing-machine.



4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Jun 18, 1918.

ACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY20, ISIS.

H. G. MILLER. s'ucms M H. G. MILLER, SUCING MACHINE. APPLICATION mso JuLYzo. :slam

Patented .Tune 18, 1918.

H. G. MILLER.

SUCING MACHINE.

vAPPLICATION FILQD JULYZU. 191B,

Patented June 18, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COCO() A n/OOOOO fluor/nud H. G. MILLER. SLICING MACHINE.V APPLICATION FILED JuLYzo, |916.

4 SHEETS-SHEE 4.

i A /40/ awoawtoz A, i i

akku/neg UNITED STATES rari..1 ;NWT;.l QFFIQE.

HERBERT Gf.` MILLER OF THE.Defiwfltnqohaamlmn QF .cnn-HALF@ PACIFIC Evuonaonoomran, 0E RQMLAND.. GBEGQN. AQRRORATJRON. QF OREGON .emerse-Mamma To all whom 'it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, HERBERT G. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at TheDalles, in the county ofWascoandfState of UregQn, have invented new# and; `useful Improvements in SlicingrMachineabf which the following; isa specification.l

This invention relates to-s1icing machines and consists in certain improvements in the construction. thereof as will ber/hereinafter fully described and pointed out :in the claims The invention is particularly advantageous in connection with; the slicing; of. fruit, vparticularly fruit havingan openingitherethrough, such as cored applesandithefinvention is illustrated-'as beinV adapted for this purpose althoughthe devlce is `adapted for diderent materials and .partieularlyy different fruits.

Thel invention is illustrated in .the accompanying drawings as follows Figure 1 shows a side-elevation of the machine.

Eig. 2 a plan view, the feeding mechanism being removed lao-better show construction.

Fig.; 3 anenlargedsectionof the feeding device directly atthe knife.

Fig. 4 a perspective view' of; theknifeand its mounting.-

Fig. 5 a section of thepartsimmediately atA the knife on the line `5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 acentral vertical ,section of 'a device f actingt1with-the slicenfor treating the ma- 'for the fruit after the blade terial.

Fig. 7 a plan View of the'end of a Vfeeding.' guide.

Fig. 8 a` section onvthe line 8-8nin Figs. 1 and 2.

Fi 9 an enlarged view of a-.Vportion of the evioe shown in Eig.` 6. .A

Fig.` 1-0 a. sectiononvthe line 10-10. in Fig4 '9. v

Fig. 11 a plan viewv of onevof the feeding chains showing its v construction.

`The Slicer` frame. is supportedfby the llegs 1 at the ends and the rintermediately; located legs 2. These are conneottai-byteu top. frame 3,1. A cutting knife/t is mountedin a rectangxular-shaped frame 5t andthe 'frame 5 is ada ted to reciprocate in guides 6 carried byt e, frame. Thefpl-atform 7 visformed in continnati,on1 of the blade folmiif ya support aB passed spenen@ of merament- Patenten Jupe 1s, 1918. Application-filed July-20, 19116. Serial No.`110;2 82.

ranged at one side of and below. the blade.

This supportsthe'fruit or material in front of` the blade and the distance it is located below` the-blade determines the thickness of the slices. yCranlrs 9 are mounted at each end ofA the ysliaftwl() and the shaftl 10 is mounted inV brackets 11. Pitmen 12 extend through ythe lcranks 9 and have the hooked ends 13J which? extend intothe brackets 14 on theframe 5. It vvill be readily `seen that the .motionl of the crank will give to the knife Jframe a reci rocating motion.

Bheshaft 10 is Adriven bya belt 15 acting on a pulley-15a fixed on the shaft 10. The belt runs from the pulley lffixed on the drive shaft v17. Conveyer belts 18 P'run ver pulleys 19 at one end of the frame, the pulleys .19 being Carried by the shaft 20 and the pulleysQl at the opposite end of the frame, thepulleys'Ql-being carried by a shaft 22. The .shaftsjQOend 22 are mounted in suitable bearingslon the frame. A ratchet Wheel 23 is fiXedonthe shaft 20 anda rock arm 24 isjournaled ontlie shaft 20 and carries a pawl 25 adapted. to act on the ratchet Wheel 23.' A pitman26 extends from one of the cranks 9 `to ythe rock arm 24 and gives it an oscillatory movement, thus moving the belts 1&intermittently as rthe knife is actuated. '.Dhe extent ofthemovement may be variedby anadjustment of the pitman 26 onfthef-rockarm 24., a series of holes V27 being providedin the rock arm for this purpose.

Trays Baremounted on the belts 18 and arelmov'edf forward under the knife to receive the sliced, material. These trays are moved forward a distance so as to bring the slicesfrom. one cut out of-the register with the slices of` a succeeding cut so that the slices are evenly spread over the trays to facilitate drying. These trays are placed upon thabelts successively by the operator and taken from the belts as they are fed forward and then carried through the drying process.

The :d1-'ive shafty 17 is driven from a drive pulleyrB. This may be connected and dis connected from the drive shaft by a clutch 25h andthe clutch may be thrown into and ontv of action by the operating levers and handles 3G and 30e. The mechanism so far `described i'snot of itself my invention.

I haveprovided a mechanism for holding:` andiffeeding the material to the knives.

,isas'ffollowm An endless belt, preferably in the form of a chain 31 is carried by the sprockets 32 and 33. The sprocket 32 is mounted on the shaft 34 and this shaft is mounted in bearings 35a on the posts 35 extending from the frame. A beveled gear 36 is mounted on the shaft 34 and meshes a gear 37 on an upright shaft 38. The shaft 38 is mounted in bearings 39. A gear 40 is fixed on the shaft 38 and meshes a gear 41 on the drive shaft 17. Thus it will be seen that the chain or belt 31 and the slicing knife are driven from a common drive shaft 1 and consequently their speed is related. The sprocket 33 is mounted on the shaft 42. The shaft 42 is carried by the uprights 43EL extending from the auxiliary frame 43. The chain 31 is made up of the links 44. These have the small perforated platforms 45. W'ood blocks 46 are secured to the platforms 45 and pins 47 extend outwardly from the platforms 46. The platforms 45 are longer than the platforms 46 forming uide extensions 45a. The pins 47 are pre erably of wood because they are not susceptible to ac tion by fruit acids.

The fruit A, which as shown, are apples have been cored and placed over the `pins 47 on the top reach of the belt or chain and are carried forward as the chain is rotated. A guide 48 in the form of a plate extends around the sprocket 32 being spaced therefrom so as to clear the fruit carried by the pins 47. The guide terminates below the -sprocket on a level with the knife 4. The fruit as it is inverted in its movement around the axis of the shaft 34 slides down on the pin into engagement with the guide 48 and moves from this onto the knife 4 or extension 7 of the knife, or the platform 8 depending on the position of the knife. The pins, however, are so timed with relation to the knife that a slice is made so as to be deposited adjacent to the side of the tray carried by the belts 18. As the fruit is carried forward along the knife, the knife reciprocates taking olf successive slices, the fruit moving downwardly on the. pins by gravity to the platform 8 with each backward movement of the knife. rlhe thickness of the slices are such that the number of slices taken from one piece of fruit is suflicient to extend across the tray, each slice bein out of register with the preceding slice. t will be seen, therefore, that the speed which the belt is given relatively to the reciprocation of the knife should be such asto advance the fruit the width of one slice with each reciprocation of the knife and that the total advance should be such as to complete the slicing of an individual piece of fruit as it reaches the end of the knife or the side of the tray. The progressive action on the fruit is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8. It will beunderstood that other means'y of holding other fruit-may be supplied to the platforms 46 hilt the device is 4peculiarly advantageous with relation to devices holding the fruit in position with an opening because the fruit is then held so as to make the slices across this opening.

It will be readily seen that this device gives a continuous feeding action and that very little skill is required to place the fruit in position, all `that is necessary being to place an individual piece of fruit on eac-h platform as the feed chain advances.

It is often desirable to treat the fruit or material prior `to or subsequent to the slicing. I have shown a. device for treating the material prior to the slicing and for automatically transferring the same from said device to the feedin y device of the slicer. A feed chain 50 simi ar in construction to the chain 31 is mounted on the sprockets 51 and 52. Thesprocket 51 is mounted on a shaft 53 and the shaft 53 is carried by the post 43a. A sprocket chain 54 conveys motion from the shaft 42 to the shaft 53 so that these shafts f are timed to move together. Pins 50"11 are arranged on the chain 50 and these are arranged to come into register or alinement With the pins 47 on the chain 31 at their adjacent pomts of travel over the sprockets 33 and 51. The sprocket 52 is mounted on the shaft 55 and this is mounted on the post 56. The post56 extends upwardly from the frame 43, the outer end of this frame being supported by the legs 57.

The chain 50 in passing olf the s rocket 52 passes over a guide wheel 58. he guide wheel 58 `is carried by a shaft 59 and the shaft 59 is mounted in the brackets 60. The guide wheel 58 has the side anges 58a and the extensions 46 on the platforms 45 operate on these flanges so that the pins 50a which extend toward the axis of this wheel are between these flanges.V The chain also passes over the guide pulley 62 mounted on the shaft 63', the shaft being mounted in the sides of a tank 61. The chain then passes over a guide sprocket 64 mounted on a shaft 65 extending between the sides of the tank 61 and thence over a guide pulley 66 similar in form to the pulley 58 and mounted on the shaft 67 carried by the brackets 68 extending from the frame 43. A guide plate 69 extends along the chain through the pulleys 58 and 60 and forms a support for the fruit carried by the pins after said pinsare inverted.

lt will be noted that the fruit as it is carried through the tank is below the level of the liquid in the tank indicated at X so that the fruit as it is carried forward by the chain is subjected to any solution that may be desired, ordinarily a salt solution in the tank 61.

As the fruit approaches the end of the guide 69 the in 47 onv the chain 31 moves through the sbo-t 71` in the end of the guide and enters'the opening in thefrut. IThe -11- imanes :fruitwmovin: off the end off thefguide' yfalls fby gravity rom. the pin 501` onto 'the pin A47 -1 which has :been @brought yint@ magister 'with v fthe pin 50% 5 Where )this ltlfeating'fdevice is awed; the operaton places-the ffrnit on thel .pi-nal 50e on `thefchain 50 and the fruit-is traneerredV from.

this chain automatically as-described 1tetthe ff 1chain- Si and then "carried:automatically throughlthe slicing machine.

fWfhat I claim asmew'is- 1. Inlaslicing machine, the combination of a=knife g devices forA feeding materialalofng 1 `the-cuttilftg edge of the blade; andfmeans'for relation a-plnrality oflf timesfd'liring "the traverse lof theematerialwalong*the cutting' edge lof the blade.

2J Inl a slicingv-machine5`the combination h15.. a' knife; devices; forf-'ifeeding material along 'the `cutting edv'e of "--thefblade and at rightangles f to ithe ilade; and r means-for movi-ng the blade and material YAintencutting relation` avpluralitybf* timesduring the -traverse o the material alongithecutting Y edge of the lblade. i

3. -In a slicingvmachineythe combination -movingtheblade andamaterijal- 'into lcutting ofilaybutting device; and a feeding! device `fe'ediigigrirutvvidual pieces' of=mater1al, said devices cutting byaelative `movement there- 1 kot in oneffdireetion andffeeding by: relative umovement of Isaid devioes `along `each other in another direction, the relative timing vlof #aidldevioesmaleing aplurality of cuts 'with each cycle of the feeding device.

i8: :InVY a alicingfmachlne, r the combination of alcutting device; and'afeedingldevice adapted fte cut material"` having 'openings ltlmrethzzough, 1' andy Lholding thefmaterial b v engaging with the walls of the openings, -.saidfdeviceecutting-by relative movement of :sad devnessinone Vdirection and vfeeding by melativeanovement.oihsaid devices along each .lethem in anotherdirection.

1.9. V{rifa-:slicingy machine, the combination Viofvewcuttin 4 deviceiuandl a `rotary feeding fidevice, alsai l. devices cutting by Yrelative Yiarisevernent:thereofi in *one direction VandY feed- 2 ingrbyvfrelative movement of said devices along each othenfiiny anotherfdirection, the wrelativetinng ofisaidwdevices .making a ,fpluraiityo cutsfwith each lcycle of: the feed- 'ing device.

V10. Inalslieingniachine, the combination of a knife; devices for holding afiidliteeding wnfacettiingdevice; andV a -feeding device i individual `pieces vii-materialfaiong the cut fling-l edge :ofthe blade a'df-means for movv-irigthe-bladeandmaterialA intoand eut of cutting-relation a pluralityoftimes diiring the traverse of LteI lnaterialy avlong'the feutting edgebf'the-blade.

ff 4.7111 ya slicing Amachine, the icombination of a cutting device -cutt-in by afmevement of the'cutting device :can Ymeelflanis'mffor feeding material along the cnttingdeviice in a? direction across Athedirection of movement 40 `rbf- "theae-ntting device, said mechanisme-and device being Ytimed `to make` ae'phidegli@` of l movements fof the cutting deivicel ddringthe 'traverse of material lthrough theI etioni of the mechanism "alongtfhe'f enttingdefvice.

l 5.5 IIL a Eslicing machigielthegooib'iiation of a cutting device -adaptedto entby wmovel ment of the cutting device nandrmeohanism for feedin vindi'vidnalpiecesifi?,niateriarlfinto euttingre ationf=withithecnttin device by a -moviemenmalong theV vcutting deviceiand across fthe direction et movementlnf fthe eutting device, seid mechanism anddevieeeing -timedto--mahe ag plnnalfitybfmovoments of. :the cuttingi device dnwingthe traverse ofima- 7. In e slicing machine, the combination ftenial 'through the-actiono *the mechanism '.comprising aniendless 'belt by which the ma wteniai'isffedaid devices cutting by relative ff movemsntlthcreofiin one direction and 'feed- Afing byilelativevmovement of said devices :balon .reach other `in another direction, the j-eative' .timing ofK--said devices lmaking a i pluaalityvof cuts with each'cycle of the feeding device.

H11-W111i alslicing machine, the combination iota cutting device; and arotaryfeeding de- A vice adaptedltor held the material by: engaging thefwa-lls oft openings wherein, said cle- @vices lfeuttiaig-by@ relative movement Athelaeot winf-onedirection land feeding by relative movement along each other inv another dierection.

i' `12.?Inj al slicing machine', the combination LofI a feiitting-l'devce; and' a` feedingdevice comprising an endless belt having means i fthereenfforiengagingfthefwalls of`v openings Jrinthe,materialto be sliced,-1saidldevices cut- .:zitingf byvnelative lifnovefnent thereof in `one direction and ifeeding by `relative movement "fof saidideviees; aongcleach other 'in another igiitiom n13.5 Inf a-sl'icing machine, the combination 'abfafieldtting device gf 'and erotary feeding devieefadaptedhto `receive the material to be leliecdamdvtoinvert theysanie in carrying it ftelelici'ngaA ositionfto' present the inverted acefon slicing, said devices being timed `relatively=to feachotherto make a plurality` of cuts on the inverted acebf the-material vi 445..:1Inf alslieingmachine; the combination f e ot icuttingdevice g ed-v a-rotary ifeeding" device adapted to receive the material to be sliced and to invert the same in carrying it to slicing position, said devices cutting by relative movement thereof `in one direction and feeding by relative movement of said devices along each other in another direction.

l5. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cuttin device; and a feeding device adapted to lold the material to be sliced by engaging openings iii said material, said feeding device inverting the material to be sliced in carrying the material to slicing position,

16. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; and 4a feedin device adapted to hold the material to be s icedby engaging openings in said material, said feeding device inverting the material to be sliced in carrying the material to slicing position, said devices cuttin' bylrelative movement thereof in one direction and feeding by relative movement of said devices along each' other in another direction.

17. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; a rotary feeding device liaving a horizontal axis adapted to receive the material on its upper surface; and a guide spaced from the feeding device and adapted to retainthe material with relation rthere to as it is inverted, said feeding device and guide holding the material against turning with relation to the feeding device as the material is inverted and said devices being timed relatively to each other to make a plurality of cuts on the inverted material 'with each cycle of the feeding device.

18. In a slicing of a cutting device; a 'rotary feeding device having a horizontal axis adapted to receive the material on its upper surface; and a guide spaced from the feeding deviceand adapted to retain the material with relation thereto as it is inverted, said devices cutting i by relative movement thereof in one direction and feeding byrelative movement ofi said devices alongeach other int another direction.

19. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; a rotary feeding device having a horizontal axis comp-rising anendless belt adapted to receive t its upper surface; and -a Aguidespaced from the feeding device and adapted 15o-retain the material with relation ltheretoas' it is inverted, said feeding device and fguide holding the material against turning With-relation to the feeding device as the 4material is inverted and said devices-being timed `relai tively to each other to make a plurality ofl cuts on the inverted material with each cycle device.

of a cutting device;'a rotary feeding device lieues a homzentalpaxls cnmprlsmgen' endmachine, the .combinati on e material on the eee-eerie ment With the walls of' openings through the material; and a guide spaced from the feeding device adapted to hold the material in relation thereto When inverted;

22. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; a rotary feeding device having a horizontal axis and comprising means for holdin the material by engagement with the Wa s of openings through the material; and a guide spaced from the feedingv device adapted to hold the material in re ation thereto wh'en inverted, said devices cuttin by relative movement thereof in one direction and feeding by relative movement of said devices along each other in another direction.

23. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; and a rotary feeding de-` vice having a continuous movement, said devices cutting by relative movement thereof in one direction and feeding by relative movement of said devices along each other in another direction, the feeding movement being timed with relation to the cuttin movement to deposit the slices cut out o register.

24. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; and a rotary feeding device'comprising an endless belt having a continuous 'movements` said devices cutting by relative movement thereof in one directionv and feeding by relative `movement of said `devices along each other in another direction, the feedin movementbeingtimed with Yrelation. to t e cutting movement to depositfthe slices cut out of register. i

25. In aslicing machine, the combination of a cutting v.device having reciprocating movement; and a feeding device feeding alon andY across the cutting device in ane of movement of the cutting device, sai devices being timed 'relatively to each other to make a lui'ality of cuts with each cycle of the fee 'ng device. i

26. -In a slicing machine, the combination .off-aI cutting device havig reciprocating movement; and a rotary'fe ing device feeding-.along and lacross the cutting device in the lplane of movement of the :cutting device,

said devices being timed relatively to each other to make a d'plurality of cuts with, each 11edms lawaloca 27. In-a slicing machine, `the combination of a Acutting device `having reciprocating movement; and a rotary feeding .devicey comprising an endless belt feeding along and across the cutting device in the plane of movement of the cutting device, *said devices being timed relatively to each other to make aplurality of cuts With each cycle of the feeding device.

28. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device having reciprocating movement; and feeding device holding the material to be fed by engagement with the Walls of openings therethrough, said feeding device moving along and across the cut ting device.

29. In a slicing machine, the combination of a reciprocating cutting device; and a continuously moving feeding device adapted to carry the material along and across the cutting device, said feeding device being timed With relation to the reciprocations of the cutting device to deposit the material cut out of register,

30. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device having reciprocating movement; a rotary feeding device having a horizontal axis adapted to receive the material on its upper surface; and a guide spaced with relation to the feeding device to retain it as the material is inverted, said feeding device carrying the material along and across the cutting device.

31. In a slicing machine, the combination of a knife; a platform spaced With relation thereto to maintain material as it is cut by the' knife; a feeding device in the form of an 'endless belt; pins arranged on the belt; pulleys carrying the belt; and a guide spaced from the belt to maintain the material in position with relation to the guide when inverted, said belt being positioned to travel along the cutting edge of the knife.

32. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; and a feeding device, said devices cutting by relative movement thereof and feeding by relative movement of said devices along each other in another direction, said feeding devices permittin a movement at right angles to the cutting evice to successively advance the material to cut successive slices therefrom.

33. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cuttin device; and a rotary feeding device, sai devices cutting by relative movement thereof and feeding by relative movement of said devices along each other in another direction, said feeding device permitting a movement at right angles to the cuttin device to successively advance the material for cutting successive slices therefrom 34. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; and a rotary feeding devicelfor hold-ing 4tlie material by en agementnwith 4openings therethrough, sai devices cutting `by relative movement thereof and `feeding by relative movement of said devices along each other in another direction, said feeding devices. permitting a movement at rightanglesto the cutting device .to successively advance the material for cutting successive slices therefrom.

35. In a slicing machine, the combination of 'a cutting device; a feeding device feeding individual pieces of material to the cutting device, said feeding device holding the material by engagement with the walls of openings therethrough; means acting with said feeding device for subjecting the material to the action of a liquid; and automatically acting mechanism for transferring the material between said means and devices.

36. In a slicing lnachine, the combination of a cutting device; a rotary feeding device having a series of pins for engagin material having openings tlierethroug said feeding device being adapted to carry the material into cutting position with the cutting device; and means for subjecting the material to the action of a liquid, said means having pins for engaging the Walls of openings through the material, said means and feeding device being adapted to bring the pins into alinement for the transfer of material from one to the other.

37. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; a feeding device comprising an endless chain having pins thereon adapted to engage the Walls of openings in the material and to feed the material into cutting relation to the cutting device; and means for subjecting the material to the action of a liquid comprising an endless belt having pins thereon, said means and feeding device being timed and adapted to bring the pins of one into alinement with the other to effect the transfer of the material from one to the other.

38. In a slicing machine, the combination of a cutting device; a feeding device for feeding material thereto; means for subjecting the material to the action of a liquid comprising an endless belt having means thereon for engaging material to be sliced; a guide spaced from the belt adapted to hold the material in relation thereto when the material is inverted throu h the movement of the belt; and a receptacle through which the belt travels.

39. In a slicing machine, the combination of a reciprocating cutter; a feeding device comprising an endless belt having pins thereon adapted to receive the material at the top; a guide for retaining the material on the pins as the material is inverted by the movement of the belt, said belt extending along the cutting edge of the reciprocating cutting device; means for subjecting the material to the action of a liquid comprisin an endless belt having pins thereon adapt/eg to be brought successively into alinement with the pins of the feeding device to effect the transfer of the material from one to 'the other; a receptacle; and mechanism for guiding the belt of said means through said receptacle, said mechanism comprising e guide spaced from the belt adapted to retain the 1o material thereon in its passage through the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT G. MILLER.

Copies o! thin patent may be obtained for vc cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ai Patenti.

Wuhlnrtol, D. C. 

